A guide of the process of hiring a tradesman to move your boiler, including the costs of labour and any materials.
This article will detail the work required to move a boiler from one position to another. Boiler systems are intricate designs, and most parts should only be by a qualified professional CORGI-registered engineer. Some areas can be carried out by the average DIY enthusiast, such as readying new pipework and modifications to walls and surrounding areas, before such an engineer is called. Still, any invasive work must be carried out by an accredited professional.
The reasons for opting for a relocating of a boiler can include a multitude of reasons such as a new home renovation, fitting new kitchen, a loft renovation, because of a potentially unsafe appliance or cramped position or even to upgrade to a new much more efficient boiler, hot water and home heating system. Occasionally this is caused by replacing an inefficient oil boiler in the kitchen with a modern gas boiler in another location, such as a garage or utility room.
Sometimes a poor-performing and faulty boiler or merely an older boiler that is out of date and doesn’t have a ready supply of spare parts available may be the purpose for a boiler reposition to a new room or location. A boiler relocation can also deliver extra storage space if that’s what you are looking for.
On average, relocating a boiler will cost from £300 to £800. This number will be affected by numerous factors and, as you may imagine, the more complicated the move, the more expensive it is. On average, the cost of moving it will include a new boiler flue (£70-£120), pipework and fittings (£300-£600), a new magnetic filter (£90-£120) and alternate controls (£100-£600), so the cost could vary widely.
Moving a boiler is actually a far more extensive job than fitting one from new as it involves the dismantling of the old position and reinstalling it in the desired location. This will usually mean that a new flue has to be fitted – through a new invasive hole – and changes to pipework carrying water supply in and out, and connections to radiators. The job will also entail moving or extending gas-pipe fitting, and this must be carried out by a CORGI-registered engineer. You should be able to carry out ancillary tasks such as moving and extending piping to the radiators.
If you are moving a boiler, it’s an excellent opportunity to carry out general decorating activities on both the new area and the old one, which will need a good deal of repair anyway. If you are moving a boiler, you may want to consider replacing the old one with a new one, depending upon the age of your current boiler.
Once you have decided that you either want or need to move your boiler, you will need to review the new area and decide how much other work needs to be done to achieve this. Generally, the new piping to the relocated boiler will need to go under the floorboards, and you need to assess what coverings you have as they will have to be interfered with. If you have carpet over floorboards, this is quite an easy task, whereas if you have an engineered wood floor or tiles, the work will become more substantial and more expensive.
Once your boiler has been relocated, you need to add a carbon monoxide alarm in the new location. You should also watch the pressure of your newly situated boiler for a few weeks to pre-empt any potential problems. It could take a while for the system to settle down into its latest position, and it may need re-pressurising in the initial few days.
While you may not have to apply for planning permission to move a boiler, you will have to comply with a variety of building regulations, particularly about the siting of the flue and the gas feed pipes. Your gas engineer will know all about these and will be able to advise you. You should fit a new carbon monoxide detector near the recently moved boiler to detect any problems with the flue and alert you so that it can be fixed.
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Here is a list of commonly asked questions regarding moving a boiler.
When a boiler is shifted, the pipework has to be relocated too, which increases most of the cost of the whole job. It’ll also need extra time and further work, which will cost more.
A like-for-like boiler swap should take no more than one day. A new boiler in a new location will take about one and a half to two days. If your new boiler is being relocated a considerable distance inside your property, it could take longer than three or four days. It may also take longer if any problems arise, and you have to invest in extra piping and work to be carried out on walls and floors.
This is becoming a popular option for many homeowners, though you'll need to think about any repercussions of choosing this location. The loft space may have to be altered to accommodate the boiler. This could include the need to board up the floor of the loft, installing the boiler with frost protection, ensuring you have a loft ladder fitted and make sure that the wall can take the weight of the boiler. These additional renovations and modifications like these will undoubtedly add to the cost of the project.
It’s also worth considering that if your boiler is located in the loft, it might take longer for hot water to get to your downstairs taps, and could result in wasted water and energy.
Regarding the boiler flue position regulations, the flue has to be situated a specific distance from any parts of the property that can be opened up, like windows and doors. What the distance is, will depend on the size of the boiler but is usually between 30-60cm above, below or adjacent to an opening.
A boiler flue that conforms to the regulations shouldn’t need planning permission; if you mean to install a boiler flue outside of the regulations, then you’ll possibly need planning permission. Again, to make that your boiler flue is being installed properly, you should refer a qualified installer.
